Subject: Re: FOI / Records Request – Deaths of William (Billy) Buckler (1990) and Mary Doreen Williams (1983)
From: Sion Buckler
Direction: sent
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:47 UTC
Institution: Coroner's Service (RCT Council)
Refs: none
Archive id: gm-1a02349abab2e950
------------------------------------------------------------

Bev,

Thank you for clarifying the position regarding the Freedom of Information
Act.

I understand that coroners and their records are not subject to the FOI
access regime. I am therefore not seeking to pursue the matter as an FOI
request if that is not the appropriate route.

My primary purpose is to establish whether either of these deaths was ever
referred to the coroner and, if so, whether any surviving record exists and
what lawful route is available for an interested family member to obtain
information from it.

I would therefore be grateful if you could clarify the following, insofar
as you are able:

   1.

   Whether your office has any record or index indicating that either
   William (Billy) Buckler, who died at Llandough Hospital on or about 29 May
   1990, or Mary Doreen Williams, whose death was registered in March 1983 in
   South Glamorgan (Vol. 28, p. 3029), was reported to or dealt with by the
   coroner;
   2.

   If either death was the subject of a coroner's investigation, whether an
   inquest, post-mortem examination or other coroner's investigation took
   place;
   3.

   Whether any historical record relating to either death remains in the
   custody of the coroner's service, or whether such records have been
   transferred to another archive, authority or successor body;
   4.

   If records exist but cannot be disclosed directly, what procedure is
   available for a descendant or other interested person to establish the
   basic factual information concerning the case;
   5.

   If your office has no record whatsoever of either death, whether that
   means that no coroner's record exists, or simply that the surviving records
   are no longer held by your office.

I am particularly interested in establishing the documentary chain rather
than necessarily seeking disclosure of confidential medical information. A
confirmation that a death was, or was not, referred to the coroner would
itself be useful.

If you are not the appropriate office to answer these historical-record
questions, I would be grateful if you could identify the relevant archive,
successor body or other custodian to whom I should direct the enquiry.

Thank you again for your assistance.

Regards,


Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sergeant)

Royal Signals Cyber and Electronic Warfare Professional and Life Member

On Fri, 21 Aug 2026, 04:33 Coroner Admin, <[email redacted]>
wrote:

> Good morning, Mr Buckler
>
> Thank you for your e-mail dated 20/08/2026.
>
>
>
> Although appointed and paid for by local councils, the coroner is not a
> local government officer but holds office under the Crown.
>
>
>
> Coroners are not designated as public authorities under the Freedom of
> Information Act 2000 and therefore their records are not subject to the
> information access regime of this Act.
>
>
>
> Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Bev Morgan
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Sion Buckler <[email redacted]>
> *Sent:* 20 August 2026 20:34
> *To:* Coroner Admin <[email redacted]>
> *Subject:* FOI / Records Request – Deaths of William (Billy) Buckler
> (1990) and Mary Doreen Williams (1983)
>
>
>
> Dear Coroner’s Office,
>
> I am writing under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and as an
> interested person to request any records held by the South Wales Central
> Coroner’s Service relating to the following two deaths:
>
> 1. William (Billy) Buckler
>    - Late of Great House Farm, Llandough
>    - Died at Llandough Hospital on or about 29 May 1990, aged 41
>    - Reported cause: heart attack
>    - Funeral 5 June 1990, Bethesda Chapel, Dinas Powys; interment St
> Michael’s Church, Michaelston-le-Pit
>
> 2. Mary Doreen Williams
>    - Born 10 August 1913
>    - Death registered March 1983, South Glamorgan (Vol 28, Page 3029)
>
> Please advise whether either death was reported to the Coroner, whether a
> post-mortem or inquest was held, and what documentation (reports, police
> referrals, hospital communications, etc.) remains available. Please also
> confirm the procedure, identification required, any fees, and timescales
> for release to next-of-kin or interested persons.
>
> I can supply further identifying details, proof of interest, and
> contemporary newspaper cuttings / family notes upon request.
>
> Thank you for your assistance.
>
> Yours faithfully,
>
>
> Sion Buckler (Ret'd Sergeant)
> Royal Signals Cyber and Electronic Warfare Professional and Life Member
>
>
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>
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>
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